Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

GATTONSIDE, THE RIGGLB50861

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Date Added
18/04/2007
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Planning Authority
Scottish Borders
Parish
Melrose
NGR
NT 54411 35128
Coordinates
354411, 635128

Description

Peter Womersley, 1957. Single storey, 3-bay square-plan Modernist flat roof house designed on a 3ft grid plan joined to former garage by covered walkway forming courtyard and sited in secluded garden with views to Eildon Hills. Sand lime brick construction with floor to ceiling plate glass timber-framed windows and painted timber fascia board.

Predominantly timber-framed windows with single glazed unframed sliding door to bedroom; some later sliding patio style doors.

INTERIOR: fine open plan modernist interior design scheme in place with original open plan layout set around 9ft cedar boarded central core housing boiler, heating system and top-lit bathroom. Interior includes signature fireplace design with black marble mantle running from interior to exterior, bench seating around sunken main living area, boarded hardwood ceilings, original Formica kitchen fittings, fitted cupboards to dressing room and original timber, vinyl and black acotile flooring throughout. Interior further enhanced by contemporary 1950's furniture including Womersley's original stereo sideboard.

Statement of Special Interest

The Rig is a fine example of domestic house built by Peter Womersley (1923-1993) and of particular interest in being tailored as his own home and office, which he created as the prototype of the architecture he hoped to produce in future commissions. The Rig survives largely in its original condition in particular to the interior which is almost entirely as built and embodies the interior design and spacial planning of this renowned borders based Modernist architect.

The Rig is a one bedroom open plan design built around a central timber service core with no conventional circulation space; different areas are defined by changes in level and floor and ceiling finishes. The bedroom is deliberately small though a full length fitted mirror creates a feeling of space. A later temporary removable partition has been erected in the study area to create a second bedroom.

There have been some changes to exterior glazing pattern with the loss of horizontal timber bands and the building was re-roofed with slight gradient and white painted aluminium guttering added to improve drainage, however the overall design and essence of the building remains strong. The former garage is now in separate ownership and the site is now entered by steps from the south.

Although the Rig was funded by an inheritance it was still a very modest building costing just £4,000 to construct including the attached garage. It was built on a former orchard belonging to Melrose Abbey. Peter Womersley subsequently added further office accommodation to the north of the existing garage to include more office space and a reception area with large fixed glazed window and integral seating overlooking a courtyard. In 1978 he converted the office accommodation to a separate house in order to sell the property. Known as The Rig Office it has subsequently been further extended in similar style and remains in separate ownership though physically linked to The Rig by the original covered walkway.

List description updated at resurvey (2010).

References

Bibliography

House, Architecture and Building, (July 1958). The Bespoke House, Architectural Prospect, number 12, (Winter 1958). Architects' Approach to Architecture, RIBA Journal, (May 1969). RIBA Journal, (July 1973). Kitty Cruft, Buildings of Scotland, Borders (2006), p319. Charles Strang, Borders and Berwick - RIAS Guide (1994), p187.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 28/03/2024 19:42